Toronto-based networking and advocacy group Women in Capital Markets (WCM) says applications for its Return to Bay Street Award program (RTBS), a “returnship” that aims to encourage gender equality in financial services by providing a pipeline for women to return to their careers after extended absences, will open on Feb. 5.

The program strives to unite firms in an “industry-wide approach to address the gender gap in the senior ranks of finance, to ensure the pool of experienced female talent is accessible to firms, and to support firms in achieving their internal diversity strategy,” WCM says.

Program partners, which include BMO, CIBC, RBC, Scotiabank, TD, IGM Financial and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, gain access to a pool of skilled and experienced female talent.

RTBS has brought 49 experienced women back to the industry to date. For more information on application criteria, visit WCM’s website.

Correction: A previous version of this article mistakenly identified the RTBS partners.